Congenital Hypotrichosis in a White-Tailed Deer Fawn from
January 2004
TLDR A white-tailed deer fawn in South Dakota was the first cervid found with congenital hypotrichosis, a condition causing sparse or missing hair.
In 2001, a 4-month-old male white-tailed deer fawn in South Dakota was diagnosed with congenital hypotrichosis, characterized by sparse hair development in specific areas and absence of hair on other skin surfaces. Histological examination showed normal hair follicle density, but follicles were empty or contained keratin debris. The epidermis was mildly thickened with prominent melanin pigment. This case was significant as it was the first documented instance of congenital hypotrichosis in a cervid, a condition previously reported in domestic species and humans.